Preliminary Stages of Investigation of Smuggling of Weapons of Mass Destruction

The article presents the criminalistic characteristics of weapons of mass destruction, as well as their components, objects and substances from which they can be made, focuses on the high level of public danger that weapons of mass destruction carry, especially in connection with the activation of extremist and terrorist groups. The paper considers and summarizes the complex of investigative and operational measures that the investigative body is obliged to carry out at the preliminary stage of the investigation of the smuggling of weapons of mass destruction, as well as materials and equipment that can be used in its creation, provides a description of the main (typical) investigative situations in the commission of this crime. The author comes to the conclusion that only with the close cooperation of all law enforcement agencies, the crimes under investigation on the territory of Russia can be solved as soon as possible, and the conclusion is also made about the possible involvement of unfriendly states, criminal communities and terrorist organizations in the smuggling of weapons of mass destruction.